The royal demand

I stood in the middle of the room, the opulence surrounding me feeling like chains rather than comfort. Prince Riku sat lazily on a nearby chair, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of amusement and something darker. He had been silent since we arrived, but the tension in the air made it clear he had much to say.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice smooth yet commanding. “Do you know why you’re here, Haru?”

I shook my head slowly, though I had my suspicions. My father had sold me off like livestock, and whatever the prince’s intentions were, they couldn’t be good. Still, I remained quiet, waiting for him to continue.

“You’re here,” he said, standing up and circling me slowly like a predator inspecting its prey, “because you are to bear my children.”

The words hung in the air like a sentence passed down from the heavens. I blinked, stunned. “Bear your children?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” he said with a smirk. “It is the duty of omegas like you. And a pretty one at that. I couldn’t let someone with your looks go to waste in a village that can’t even afford a proper pair of shoes for you.” His gaze lingered on me, as though appraising my worth yet again. “You should consider yourself lucky.”

Lucky. That word again, wrapped in cruelty and expectation. I looked down at the rich carpet beneath my feet, my hands trembling at my sides. "I don’t understand,” I muttered, but I already did. I just didn’t want to believe it.

Riku’s voice dropped lower, laced with the same regal authority as before. “You are to be my wife, Haru. You will live here in the palace, dress in the finest silks, and dine at my table. And, in return, you will give me heirs.” He said it so simply, as though this was the only course my life could ever take.

I felt my heart sink deeper, like a stone cast into the abyss. "But I... I didn’t have a choice.”

“There is no choice, Haru,” he said firmly, stepping in front of me and tipping my chin up with a finger, forcing me to meet his eyes. "This is your place now. You belong to me. And you will do as I say."

Tears stung at the corners of my eyes, but I held them back, biting down on my lip. This was my reality now. Sold by my father to serve a prince—no, to be his wife, to give him children. The very thought made my stomach churn.

“And why are you so sad?” Riku asked, tilting his head in mock confusion. “Most omegas would be thrilled to be in your position. You’ll live a life of luxury. I could have picked anyone, but I chose you. That should make you feel special.”

Special? How could I feel anything but trapped? My gaze shifted to the ornate decorations around me, the shimmering golden details on the walls, the lush curtains. Everything here was grand, yet suffocating.

Riku let out a sigh as if my sadness had inconvenienced him. “In time, you’ll understand. Once you see the world I offer, you’ll grow to accept your role. It’s not as terrible as you think. And besides…” He leaned in closer, his lips brushing my ear. “You’re far too beautiful to waste on anything less than royalty.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of dread and something else, something I didn’t want to acknowledge. I pulled back, but Riku’s grip on my chin tightened just enough to remind me who was in control.

“Don’t worry, Haru,” he said, his voice softening just a touch, though the menace remained. “In time, you’ll learn to love it here. You’ll learn to love me. And when you give me an heir, I’ll reward you beyond your wildest dreams.”

I stared at him, unable to find the words. This was my life now—whether I liked it or not. He was a prince, and I was nothing but the omega destined to bear his children. I had no choice in the matter, and I knew it.

As he released my chin, his fingers ghosted over my skin, leaving a trail of cold in their wake. “Rest now,” he said, his tone once again light, as though the weight of his demands hadn’t just crashed down on me. “We’ll start planning the ceremony soon. After all, a prince’s bride must look perfect.”

He turned and left the room, the door closing behind him with a soft click. And I was alone in the grand room that felt more like a gilded cage than a home.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, the silk sheets cool against my skin. Tears welled in my eyes again, and this time, I couldn’t stop them from falling.

This was my future now. And I had no way out.

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